The Equality Act Made Simple Sexual Orientation the Equality Act Made Simple

Sexual Orientation The Equality Act Made Simple Sexual Orientation The Equality Act Made Simple

By Sam Dick Foreword

The Equality Act 2010 consolidates many of the protections, against discrimination in employment and the provision of goods and services, that have been hard-won by Stonewall over the last decade. However, the Act’s ‘public duty’ also heralds a further step change in Britain’s legislative landscape.

The duty to promote equal treatment in the delivery of public services to gay people may be new but complying with it need not be complicated or costly. Stonewall’s work with hundreds of organisations has already demonstrated that delivering tailored services that people actually need makes sound economic sense.

Some public bodies will be thinking for the first time about how to meet the needs of the 3.7m lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain who help fund them. That’s why Stonewall has produced this plain-English guide to the Act. It outlines some off-the-peg actions organisations can carry out. But this guide is only the beginning. If you’d like more support and advice, Stonewall is happy to provide practical solutions – based on years of our work Stonewall has produced ground-breaking research on across the private and public sectors – on how to deliver genuinely 21st-century public services. lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s experiences of almost all public services in Britain. All of these publications are free Ben Summerskill to download from www.stonewall.org.uk/publications Chief Executive Contents

1 What’s this guide about? 2 2 What is the Equality Act? 3 3 Employment protections 4 4 Goods, facilities and services protections 7 5 The public sector Equality Duty 8 6 Sample equality objectives 13 Employers 14 NHS organisations 16 Police forces 18 Secondary schools and colleges 20 Primary schools 22 Universities 24 Stonewall has produced a simple, short plain-English guide Local authorities 26 explaining to customers and service users why they may be monitored. It’s available for public bodies to distribute Care services for older people 28 to their customers and service users from Housing providers 30 www.stonewall.org.uk/resources 7 Further information 32 1 What’s this guide about? 2 What is the Equality Act?

Stonewall works with hundreds of organisations in the private and public sector. In the past The Equality Act 2010 consolidates all anti-discrimination legislation many have been confused by the laws about ‘equality’, ‘diversity’ and discrimination. That in Britain in one place. The new law is simpler and more consistent was hardly surprising given that there were hundreds of different pieces of legislation than before. covering them. Thankfully, all that law has now been replaced by the Equality Act 2010. Sexual orientation is a ‘protected characteristic’ under the Act, Many organisations can still find it complicated and do not have the time to read pages and alongside race, sex, gender reassignment, disability, age, marriage pages of guidance on what it all means, not to mention how it specifically protects lesbian, gay and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and religion and and bisexual people. belief. This means everyone, whether they are lesbian, gay, bisexual This brief guide is here to help. It explains clearly what the law says organisations should or heterosexual, is protected from discrimination because of their do when it comes to lesbian, gay and bisexual staff, customers and service users. The sexual orientation. Some of the protections in the Act already following pages cover everything in a little more detail but the key points everyone should existed, in employment and the provision of services for example, remember are: but some protections are new. The Equality Act 2010 covers a range of other specific issues • No employer, with very limited exceptions, can treat a lesbian, gay or bisexual employee relevant to specific protected characteristics like disability. This guide or applicant differently from a straight employee or applicant simply because of their is designed to be an introduction to the parts which relate most sexual orientation directly to sexual orientation. There are three key parts of the Act • No organisation delivering a service can refuse to deliver it or give a poorer quality service covered in this guide: to a customer simply because of their sexual orientation 1. Employment protections • Any organisation delivering a public service (such as NHS healthcare), including businesses contracted out to deliver a public service, must consider the needs of different 2. Goods, facilities and service protections groups who might use that service and commit themselves to tackling inequality 3. The public sector Equality Duty

Stonewall has a range of tools to help employers, businesses and public bodies not just to The way that the Equality Duty is implemented is slightly different in England, Scotland and comply with the law but also to make sure their workplaces, services and products are as Wales. This guide covers what organisations have to do to meet the Equality Duty in England, good as they can be for Britain’s 3.7 million lesbian, gay and bisexual people. but these requirements are not wholly different in Scotland and Wales. For specific information about how the duty applies in Scotland and Wales contact Stonewall Scotland on For more information on how we could help you call us on 08000 502020 or email [email protected] or Stonewall Cymru on [email protected]. [email protected].

2 3 3 Employment protections

The Equality Act 2010 replicates existing protections, in place since Since the protections came into force many employers have already 2003, that outlaw discrimination in employment on the grounds of implemented policies and practices that meet or go beyond their sexual orientation. Under the Act it is unlawful to discriminate on legal responsibilities. They have helped them avoid potentially costly the grounds of someone’s sexual orientation or perceived sexual legal claims. There have, however, been a number of employment orientation. It also prohibits discriminating against someone because tribunals where employers have been found to have discriminated of their association with others who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. against gay staff, resulting in significant costs. For example, in 2006 This applies to all employers, regardless of their size. an employment tribunal in Glasgow awarded Jonah Ditton a total The law covers all aspects of employment including: of £120,000 for the discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation he experienced whilst working as a media sales manager • Recruitment at CP Publishing Ltd. • Promotion • Training Stonewall’s Diversity Champions good practice programme Terms and Conditions • provides tailored support and advice to over 600 employers • Pay and benefits across Britain. Members of the programme also receive specific • Dismissals recommendations based upon their Workplace Equality Index score helping them to improve their workplaces year on year.

The Act outlaws four types of behaviour in the workplace relating to Stonewall’s annual Workplace Equality Index sexual orientation: is a free diagnostic tool open to all employers to help them identify the practical steps they • Direct discrimination is where one person is treated less can take to meet their legal obligations. favourably than another person is treated, has been treated or It can also include an anonymous survey of an would be treated in a comparable situation on the grounds of employer’s lesbian, gay and bisexual staff to their sexual orientation measure staff satisfaction and experiences in • Indirect discrimination is where a policy or practice is applied the workplace. which disadvantages people of a particular sexual orientation, unless it can be justified as a proportionate means of achieving For more information visit www.stonewall.org.uk/at_work or a legitimate aim contact our Workplace team on [email protected] • Harassment is where an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or 08000 502020. humiliating or offensive work environment is created for someone because of their sexual orientation • Victimisation is where a person is treated unfavourably because of their involvement in a case brought under the Equality Act, whether as a claimant, witness or otherwise

4 5 4 Goods, facilities and services protections

Positive Action The Equality Act replicates existing protections, in place since 2007, The Equality Act outlaws positive discrimination, but allows positive that outlaw discrimination in the provision of ‘goods, facilities and action. Understandably, many employers and employees find the services’ on the grounds of sexual orientation. This covers any public two concepts confusing. or commercial service, whether provided free or for a charge. All aspects of goods and service provision are covered by the Act, • Positive discrimination is when someone is appointed or including: promoted solely because, for example, they are lesbian, gay or bisexual. Positive discrimination is unlawful. • Providing a service • Positive action is where employers undertake work with • Terminating a service particular groups to address under-representation of those • The terms and conditions of a service groups in their workforce. This includes targeted recruitment advertising and leadership programmes. Positive action is lawful. Since the protections came into force many businesses and public services have implemented policies and practices that meet and go Positive Action in recruitment beyond their legal responsibilities. This has helped them avoid Under the Equality Act, if employers are faced with two or more potentially costly legal claims. There have, however, been a small candidates for a job or promotion who are equally qualified in every number of cases where businesses have been found to have way they can lawfully appoint or promote a candidate because of discriminated against their gay customers resulting in significant costs. their sexual orientation. For most employers such situations are very For example, in 2011 the owners of the Cymorvah Private Hotel in unlikely to arise. Cornwall were found to have discriminated against civil partners This is not positive discrimination. The decision to promote or Martyn Hall and Steve Preddy when they were refused a double recruit an individual must be based on merit. If a gay candidate is room because they were ‘unmarried’. The courts ruled that despite not of equal merit to the best candidate for the job then the best the policy being based on the genuine religious beliefs of the candidate should be appointed. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people owners it was direct discrimination because a gay couple are unable should not be forced to disclose their sexual orientation, nor should to get married in Britain. Mr Hall and Mr Preddy were awarded information about their sexual orientation be shared with others £3,200 in damages. without their consent.

For more Stonewall works with a number of public and private service providers information see the following across a range of sectors to help ensure their services are accessible to useful Stonewall lesbian, gay and bisexual people. For tailored support and advice on reports and ensuring your services are accessible and provided free from resources discrimination contact 08000 502020 or [email protected].

Monitoring workplace What’s it got to do guide with you? 6 7 5 The public sector Equality Duty

The public sector Equality Duty, known as ‘the duty’, is designed to Setting equality objectives support and guide public bodies to address inequalities experienced Under the Act public bodies will need to set and publish equality by their staff and service users. This includes inequalities experienced objectives. This need not be difficult or time-consuming. by lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It extends previous duties that By 6 April 2012 all public bodies should have published their only covered gender, ethnicity and disability to other groups to chosen objectives. They will have to publish new or revised create one simple duty. objectives at least once every four years. They can amend or add to The duty covers all the work of a public body, including the them at any time. services it contracts out to be delivered by others. There is no set number of equality objectives a public body must There are two parts of the duty: the general duty and the specific set however, both their number and scope should be proportionate duties. Put simply, the general duty sets out the goals that public to the size and role of the organisation. A large NHS Trust would, bodies must aim for, whilst the specific duties are the practical for example, find it very difficult to justify only setting one or two things they must do to help them achieve those goals. objectives. The general duty says that public bodies, in all of their functions, There is no set form or topic for equality objectives, although they must consider: must be specific and measurable. They should also be relevant to the services an organisation delivers. Equality objectives have to be • Eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation designed to meet the aims of the general duty. • Advancing equality of opportunity • Fostering good relations between different groups

The Government is clear that how public bodies achieve these three aims should be flexible and proportionate. They have, however, laid down in the specific duties things that public bodies have to do as a minimum:

1. Public bodies have to set and publish equality objectives, setting out how they intend to meet any of the aims of the general duty. This will enable people to clearly see what public bodies have committed to doing.

2. Public bodies will need annually to publish data which shows how they are meeting these aims. This will enable people to hold them to account on whether they are addressing inequalities.

8 9 Publishing equality data research clearly demonstrates the needs of different lesbian, gay and By 31 January 2012 (6 April 2012 for schools) public bodies should bisexual communities, including regionally and nationally. have published data that they feel demonstrates their compliance Given the wealth of clear evidence of the inequalities experienced with the duty. They then need to publish data at least annually to by many lesbian, gay and bisexual people when accessing a range demonstrate whether they are tackling inequalities. of public services, public bodies would find it difficult to justify not The data can either be statistical or about experiences (for setting equality objectives covering sexual orientation. example from focus groups or people’s feedback). It should also cover inequalities experienced by both service users and staff. There Collecting your own data is no prescribed format or place where this data needs to be Public bodies should not be complacent. They should try and identify published. However, people outside the organisation must be able how they could collect data about their lesbian, gay and bisexual to easily access and understand it. staff and service users, and in particular to measure their progress on To ensure individual members of staff cannot be identified by any meeting their equality objectives. In particular they should consider: data published organisations are not expected to publish monitoring data for workforces of fewer than 150 people. Organisations should • Monitoring sexual orientation at application, appointment, take particular care not to publish data that ‘outs’ individual lesbian, promotion and exit stages of employment gay or bisexual people against their wishes. • Monitoring sexual orientation in staff satisfaction surveys, grievance procedures and uptake of different programmes or initiatives Data on sexual orientation • Monitoring the sexual orientation of participants in any customer Not all public bodies will have comprehensive information about the service or satisfaction surveys they conduct with service users, lesbian, gay and bisexual people who use their services or work for patients and students over 16 them. Public bodies can therefore use information or research Engaging with lesbian, gay and bisexual staff through a collated by other organisations such as Stonewall in setting and • staff network group measuring their objectives. Stonewall have conducted comprehensive research on a range of • Engaging with local lesbian, gay and bisexual people areas including health, criminal justice, education, housing, media, through gay forums or service user groups asylum and immigration, parenting, sport and employment. This • Monitoring the sexual orientation of people who complain or give feedback • Monitoring the sexual orientation of people when they access For more services information see the following useful Stonewall reports and resources

Serves You Right Gay and Bisexual The Gay British Crime Unseen on screen – Men’s Health Survey Survey Gay people on youth TV 10 11 6 Sample equality objectives

Stonewall has produced a series of guides for organisations on how Research clearly demonstrates the inequalities often experienced by to monitor sexual orientation, how to engage lesbian, gay and lesbian, gay and bisexual people and the barriers they can face in bisexual staff and how to engage lesbian, gay and bisexual service accessing public services. users. Stonewall has also produced What’s It Got To Do With You? The following sections provide sample equality objectives for a simple, short plain-English guide for service users on why they different types of public bodies based upon this evidence and may be monitored. All are free to download from shaped by our on-going work with employers and service providers www.stonewall.org.uk/publications. across a range of sectors. Each section includes:

Involving gay people 1. Evidence of inequalities experienced by lesbian, gay and The purpose of the duty to make sure that everyone receives the bisexual people relevant to those particular public services same quality of public service and the same opportunities at work 2. Sample equality objectives relevant to those public services regardless of their sexual orientation. Public bodies should involve 3. Sample actions public bodies can take to help them meet gay staff and service users in the decisions they make about the those objectives public services they help pay for. This will help make sure that they 4. What public bodies might want to measure to demonstrate deliver cost-effective services that gay people need and use. progress against those objectives Involving members of the gay community in local decision-making is new for many public bodies so Stonewall have produced a plain- English guide for them on how best to engage with gay people. The sample objectives in the following sections are a guide for public The Government has also made clear that people should be able bodies. However, to ensure their own objectives are specific and to hold public bodies to account on how they are meeting their measurable, public bodies should consider giving themselves specific obligations under the duty. Public bodies should be active in targets, where relevant. encouraging lesbian, gay and bisexual people, alongside everyone For example, for a police force this could be to improve the proportion of homophobic hate crimes resulting in a charge by 50 per else, to scrutinise the work they are doing. Stonewall has produced cent, or for a NHS trust it could be to increase the number of lesbian a simple plain-English guide for members of the public explaining and bisexual women accessing cervical screening by 25 per cent. how they can help make sure public services are being delivered in accordance with the Equality Act.

For more information see the following useful Stonewall reports and resources

How to engage gay What’s it got to people in your work do with you? 12 13 Employers Sample objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Evidence clearly shows that lesbian, gay and bisexual people face Decrease homophobic bullying Develop a clear and inclusive Decrease in number of reported discrimination in the workplace. Many experience barriers to being and harassment in the bullying and harassment policy cases of homophobic bullying out (openly-gay) in the workplace, experience homophobic bullying workplace Train all staff on what constitutes Increase in number of staff who say and harassment and can experience difficulties reaching senior homophobic bullying at work they have confidence in reporting positions within organisations. homophobic bullying

Improve career progression for Provide access to specific career Number of gay people in senior • Almost one in five lesbian, gay and bisexual people have lesbian, gay and bisexual staff development information or levels within the organisation experienced bullying because of their sexual orientation initiatives to gay staff Number of staff saying there are at work Encourage senior out role models visible gay role models in the within the organisation organisation. • A quarter of them have been bullied by their manager, half by team members and a third by people junior to them Increase the number of lesbian, Establish a lesbian, gay and bisexual Number of staff out at work with • Lesbian, gay and bisexual people who are able to be open gay and bisexual staff out at employee network group colleagues, managers or clients about their sexual orientation at work say they are more work Send gay employees on Stonewall’s Number of staff confident declaring productive, confident, creative, loyal, motivated and better annual Leadership Programme their sexual orientation information able to build good working relationships with colleagues Demonstrate a commitment to Join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Improvement on Workplace Equality • Lesbians report that they often experience a combination lesbian, gay and bisexual good practice programme and enter Index score year on year of discrimination because of their gender and sexual equality Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Attendance and evaluation of events orientation Host and attend community events on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues • Bisexual men and women also often encounter additional stereotypes as being untrustworthy, indecisive and unreliable because of their sexual orientation Stonewall’s annual Workplace Equality Index scores employers against a number of criteria to establish how gay-friendly their workplaces are. The Index is free to enter and can also include a

Sources: Serves You Right, Peak Performance, Bisexual People in the survey of an employer’s lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. Diversity Champions members are Workplace and Double-Glazed Glass Ceiling provided with a detailed breakdown of their score, allowing them track their progress on a number of criteria they may set as equality objectives and develop their business plans.

For more For information and support on information see delivering equality objectives the following specific to employers, please useful Stonewall contact us on 08000 502020 or reports and [email protected] resources

Serves You Right Peak Performance Bisexual People in the The Double-Glazed Network Groups Bullying workplace Role Models Workplace guide Glass Ceiling workplace guide guide 14 15 NHS organisations Sample objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Stonewall has published clear research about the health needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual Make patient environments Display positive and inclusive Increase in uptake of services by people and their expectations of discrimination when using the NHS. Despite the welcoming to lesbian, gay and messages such as Stonewall’s free gay people acknowledged benefits of early intervention, many NHS organisations do not meet the bisexual patients posters in all patient environments Increase in satisfaction levels needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual patients. This costs the NHS money. Train frontline staff on how to treat of gay patients lesbian, gay and bisexual patients Decrease in number of gay related complaints about staff • One in five lesbian and bisexual women have deliberately harmed themselves in

the past year, compared to 0.4 per cent of women generally Provide relevant healthcare to Train staff on when and how to Increase in number of lesbian, gay • Two-thirds of lesbian and bisexual women have smoked, compared to 50 per cent lesbian, gay and bisexual encourage disclosure by patients of and bisexual people who are out to of heterosexual women patients their sexual orientation (where their healthcare practitioners health related) Increase in satisfaction levels • Fifteen per cent of lesbian and bisexual women over 25 have never had a cervical Train clinical staff on lesbian, gay of gay patients screen, compared to seven per cent of women in general and bisexual health inequalities • Three per cent of gay and bisexual men have attempted to take their life in the Achieve improvements in the Develop inclusive or targeted Decrease in health inequalities last year, compared to just 0.4 per cent of men in general health of local lesbian, gay and preventative health messages Increase in uptake of specific • Half of gay and bisexual men have experienced at least one incident of domestic bisexual people Promote existing services to the local services by gay patients abuse from a family member or a partner since the age of 16 compared to lesbian, gay and bisexual community 17 per cent of men in general Demonstrate a commitment to Join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Improvement on Workplace Equality Half of lesbian and bisexual women report negative experiences in the healthcare • lesbian, gay and bisexual good practice programme and enter Index score year on year sector in the past year equality Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Attendance and evaluation of events • A third of gay and bisexual men who have accessed healthcare services in the last Host and attend community events year have had a negative experience in relation to their sexual orientation on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues • Nine per cent of lesbian and gay people and ten per cent of bisexuals rated their Stonewall provides tailored support for NHS organisations through our Healthy Lives campaign doctor ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ at taking problems seriously compared to five per cent and the Health Champions programme. Stonewall has also published a free guide specifically for of heterosexuals NHS organisations on how to improve their workplaces and services to lesbian, gay and bisexual Sources: Prescription for Change, Gay and Bisexual Men’s Health Survey and GP Patient Survey 2009/10 staff and patients.

For more For information and support on information see delivering NHS specific equality the following objectives, please visit our website useful Stonewall for NHS organisations www. reports and healthylives.stonewall.org.uk resources or contact us on 08000 502020 or

Prescription for Gay and Bisexual Sexual Orientation: Different Families, Lesbian health posters [email protected] Change Men’s Health Survey A guide for the NHS Same Care posters 16 17 Police forces Sample Objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Stonewall has published robust, clear evidence about the Increase reporting of Distribute ‘Blow the Whistle on Gay Increase in proportion of experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual people of the police and homophobic hate crimes and Hate’ to local gay community with homophobic hate crimes or the criminal justice system. incidents police logo incidents reported to the police Work with young gay people to Increase in number of gay people • One in eight lesbian and gay people experienced a encourage them to report confident to report to the police homophobic incidents homophobic hate crime or incident in the three years to 2008

• Seventy seven per cent of victims did not report the incident Improve recording of Train staff on appropriate questioning Decrease in number of crimes or to the police and 70 per cent did not report the incident homophobic hate crimes and to better identify hate crimes incidents mis-recorded as not being to anyone incidents Raise awareness with local gay homophobic community on importance of Increase in proportion of crimes • Two-thirds of victims who reported a homophobic hate crime reporting the homophobic nature of flagged as homophobic hate crimes or incident were not referred to advice or support services incidents • One in six victims who reported to the police did not report Improve investigation of Develop robust investigative Increase in proportion of homophobic it as a hate crime or incident homophobic hate crimes and methods for homophobic hate crimes hate crimes being charged • A quarter of victims who reported to the police say it was incidents Establish local hate crime scrutiny Increase in proportion of homophobic not recorded as a hate incident or crime panels in conjunction with the hate crimes being convicted • Only five per cent of victims who reported an incident to Crown Prosecution Service the police say that it resulted in a conviction Demonstrate a commitment to Join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Improvement on Workplace Equality • Over one in five lesbian and gay people think they would lesbian, gay and bisexual good practice programme and enter Index score year on year be treated less favourably by the police than a heterosexual equality Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Attendance and evaluation of events if they reported a crime Host and attend community events on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues • Over a third of lesbian and gay people think the police would treat them less favourably than a heterosexual if they committed a crime or were suspected of committing a crime

Sources: Serves You Right and The Gay British Crime Survey

For more For information and support on information see delivering equality objectives the following specific to the police, useful Stonewall please contact us on reports and 08000 502020 or resources [email protected]

Serves You Right The Gay British Crime Blow the Whistle Some People Are Gay, Survey on Gay Hate Get Over It posters 18 19 Secondary schools and colleges Sample Objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Schools and colleges have to set equality objectives, although these do not have to be in Increase reporting of Raise awareness with students and Increase in proportion of relation to the National Curriculum. Stonewall has published a significant volume of research homophobic bullying staff about homophobic bullying homophobic bullying reported into the experiences of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people in schools and colleges. using Stonewall’s ‘FIT’ DVD Increase in number of students who Have a clear policy on bullying and feel comfortable reporting • Sixty five per cent of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced harassment that includes homophobic bullying to the school homophobic bullying homophobic bullying at school

• Almost 100 per cent of young lesbian and gay people hear homophobic and Decrease homophobic bullying Join Stonewall’s School Champions Decrease in use of homophobic derogatory language in their school and homophobic language/abuse good practice programme language and abuse in school Implement a zero-tolerance policy • Fifty eight per cent of those who experience homophobic bullying never report it toward homophobic language and • Seven out of ten lesbian and gay pupils who experience homophobic bullying say abuse it has had an impact on their school work Use Stonewall Teachers’ Packs to develop a more inclusive curriculum • Half of those who have experienced homophobic bullying have skipped school because of it Improve support to young Train all staff using Stonewall’s ‘Spell Number of staff trained to support • Nine in ten teachers and non-teaching staff in secondary schools have never lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils It Out’ DVD on supporting young young lesbian, gay and bisexual received any specific training on how to prevent and respond to homophobic lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils pupils bullying Provide relevant advice and Number of resources available to information that students can access young lesbian, gay and bisexual • Over 60 per cent of young lesbian and gay people do not have an adult they can (confidentially) pupils talk to at school or at home • Two in five secondary school staff would not feel confident in providing pupils with information, advice and guidance on lesbian and gay issues Stonewall’s School Champions good practice programme is part of our Education for All Sources: The School Report and The Teachers’ Report campaign and is designed to support schools to tackle homophobic bullying and create safe learning environments for all pupils. School Champions receive tailored practical advice that will help them meet their objectives.

For more For information and support on information see delivering specific equality the following objectives for schools and useful Stonewall colleges, contact us on reports and 08000 502020 or resources [email protected]

The School Report The Teachers’ Report FIT DVD Spell It Out DVD Some People Are Gay, Teachers’ Packs Supporting lesbian, gay Get Over It posters and bisexual young people education guide 20 21 Primary schools Sample Objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Primary schools have to set age-appropriate equality objectives, Reduce the use of language such Join Stonewall’s School Champions Decrease in use of homophobic although these do not have to be in relation to the National as ‘that’s so gay’ in school good practice programme language and abuse Curriculum. Research has shown that children in primary schools use Train teachers and school staff using homophobic language and experience homophobic bullying but Stonewall’s ‘Celebrating Difference’ that it is often unchallenged. This could have a significant effect on DVD In circle-time discuss different types the self-esteem of children who later turn out to be gay. of families with children

• Three quarters of primary school teachers hear children use Increase involvement of same- Encourage same-sex parents to Number of same-sex parents expressions such as ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school sex parents in the school apply to be Governors applying to be on the Board of community Governors • More than two in five primary school teachers say children and young people in their schools experience homophobic Better reflect pupils’ different Display Stonewall’s ‘Different Decrease in use of homophobic bullying, name calling or harassment families in school Families’ posters and resources in language and abuse • Nine in ten teachers and non-teaching staff in primary school schools have never received any specific training on how to prevent and respond to homophobic bullying • Primary school age children with gay parents experience homophobic language and bullying at school and few have heard same-sex families mentioned at school, making them feel invisible

Source: Different Families and The Teachers’ Report Stonewall’s School Champions good practice programme is part of our Education for All campaign and is designed to support schools to tackle homophobic bullying and create safe learning environments for all pupils. School Champions receive tailored practical advice that will help them meet their objectives.

For more For information and support on information see delivering specific equality the following objectives for schools, contact us useful Stonewall on 08000 502020 or reports and [email protected] resources

Different Families The Teachers’ Report Different Families Celebrating Difference Same Love posters DVD 22 23 Universities Sample Objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Research by the Equality Challenge Unit has shown that a significant Increase reporting of Have a clear policy on bullying and Increase in proportion of number of lesbian, gay and bisexual students experience financial homophobic bullying and harassment that includes homophobic bullying reported and family difficulties relating to their sexual orientation whilst in discrimination by students homophobic bullying Increase in number of students who higher education. Lesbian, gay and bisexual students also fear and Develop and promote easy ways for would feel comfortable reporting experience homophobia and discrimination from university staff and students to report homophobic homophobic bullying to the bullying university fellow students.

Improve support, advice and Establish specific welfare services Number of people seeking welfare • Over 60 per cent of lesbian, gay or bisexual students are not information provided to lesbian, that respond to the needs of gay and support services for lesbian, gay out to their tutors and lecturers because they fear gay and bisexual students students and bisexual issues and their levels discrimination Provide relevant advice and of satisfaction with that support information that students can Number of gay students who feel Fifteen per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual students fear • access (confidentially) the university provides them with losing financial support if they come out to their parents Provide career development advice relevant and useful information • The parents of 4.9 per cent of gay students refuse to provide that meets the needs of gay Number of applicants to the financial support for them as specified by their local students university who are gay education authority assessment Demonstrate a commitment Join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Improvement on Workplace Equality • Three per cent of gay students are estranged from their to lesbian, gay and bisexual good practice programme and enter Index score year on year parents, but do not know how to prove this legally and so equality Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Attendance and evaluation of events receive no financial support Host and attend community events Improve or maintain score on on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues Gay by Degree year on year • Almost half of students have experienced homophobia from fellow students Gay by Degree is Stonewall’s online university guide aimed at lesbian, gay and bisexual • Over ten per cent have experienced homophobic treatment prospective students. The guide profiles every university in the UK on what each institution has from tutors, lecturers or other higher education staff in place to support its gay staff and students. Each university is scored on a range of criteria allowing them to benchmark themselves against other universities and measure their progress year on year on the support they provide gay staff and students. For more information visit Source: Experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans staff and students in www.gaybydegree.org.uk. higher education: research report 2009 (ECU)

For more For information and support on information see delivering higher education the following specific equality objectives, useful Stonewall contact us on 08000 502020 or reports and [email protected] resources

Some People Are Gay, Supporting lesbian, gay Get Over It posters and bisexual young people education guide 24 25 Local authorities Sample Objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

There is clear evidence that lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience inequalities and Improve provision of care to Ensure assessment process of care Increase in number of gay people disadvantages in accessing a whole range of public services. Many inequalities experienced by lesbian, gay and bisexual older needs reflects the needs of older receiving appropriate care lesbian, gay and bisexual people can be addressed through the work of local authorities. people gay people Increase in number of private care Ensure private providers of care providers meeting care standards Social care meet explicit standards relating to for older gay people older gay people • Three in five lesbian, gay and bisexual people over 55 are not confident that social

care and support services would be able to understand and meet their needs Decrease homophobic bullying Join Stonewall’s Education Decrease in use of homophobic • Nearly half of lesbian, gay and bisexual people over 55 would be uncomfortable in local schools Champions good practice programme language and abuse being out to care home staff for support in developing action plan Train teachers on responding to Community safety and cohesion homophobic bullying using Stonewall’s ‘Spell It Out’ DVD • One in eight lesbian and gay people experience a homophobic hate crime or

incident every year Decrease homophobic hate Distribute ‘Blow the Whistle on Gay Increase in proportion of • One in six victims of homophobic hate crimes say that the crime was committed by crime in local area and increase Hate’ to the local gay community homophobic hate crimes or a neighbour or someone living in the local area reporting incidents reported to the police

• Only half of gay people enjoy living in their neighbourhood compared to two Improve community involvement Raise awareness of lesbian, gay and Increase in the proportion of thirds of heterosexuals of lesbian, gay and bisexual bisexual people’s role in the local lesbian, gay and bisexual people people community who feel part of their community Schools Encourage active participation of Increase in the number of openly • Sixty five per cent of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced local gay people in civil society gay councillors, school governors or homophobic bullying at school. Half of them have skipped school because of it other civic positions • Nine in ten teachers and non-teaching staff in secondary and primary schools have Demonstrate a commitment to Join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Improvement on Workplace Equality never received any specific training on how to prevent and respond to lesbian, gay and bisexual good practice programme and enter Index score year on year homophobic bullying equality Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Attendance and evaluation of events Host and attend community events Sources: Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Later Life, The Gay British Crime Survey, Citizenship Survey, The School Report and The Teachers’ Report on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues

For more For information and support on information see delivering local authority specific the following equality objectives, contact us on useful Stonewall 08000 502020 or reports and [email protected] resources

Lesbian, Gay and The Gay British Crime The School Report The Teachers’ Report Some People Are Gay, Blow the Whistle on Spell It Out DVD Bisexual People in Survey Get Over It posters Gay Hate Later Life 26 27 Care services for older people Sample Objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Stonewall’s Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Later Life research Improve the experience of older Train staff on treating all patients Increase in number of older people clearly shows that older lesbian, gay and bisexual people have different gay people in residential care with respect and dignity in care who are openly gay needs and circumstances from heterosexuals as they get older. They Write a room allocation policy Increase in number of same-sex also do not feel that care services understand these needs. which allows same-sex couples to couples accessing residential care be housed together • Gay and bisexual men over 55 are almost three times more Provide better information and Provide tailored information to older Increase in older gay people who likely to be single than heterosexual men services to older gay people gay people on where to seek feel that care providers understand • Forty one per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual people over information and support and meet their needs 55 live alone compared to 28 per cent of heterosexuals Run specific services to allow older Decrease in number of older gay gay people to meet each other people in care who feel isolated • Just over a quarter of lesbian, gay and bisexual people over 55 have children compared to over nine in ten heterosexuals Improve healthcare to older gay Train healthcare staff on the health Increase in number of older gay • Less than half of lesbian, gay and bisexual people over 55 people inequalities experienced by older people accessing relevant gay people healthcare see their biological family members at least once a week Train staff on encouraging Increase in older gay people who compared to more than half of heterosexuals disclosure of patients’ sexual feel that healthcare staff understand • Gay and bisexual men are twice as likely to have been orientation where medically relevant their health needs diagnosed with depression and anxiety than heterosexual men Demonstrate a commitment to Join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Improvement on Workplace Equality lesbian, gay and bisexual good practice programme and enter Index score year on year • Three in five lesbian, gay and bisexual people over 55 are equality Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Attendance and evaluation of events not confident that social care and support services would Host and attend community events be able to understand and meet their needs on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues • Nearly half of lesbian, gay and bisexual people over 55 would be uncomfortable being out to care home staff

Source: Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Later Life

For more For information and support on information see delivering specific equality the following objectives for care providers for useful Stonewall older people, please contact us on reports and 08000 502020 or resources [email protected]

Lesbian, Gay and Prescription for Gay and Bisexual Different Families Bisexual People in Change Men’s Health Survey Same Care posters Later Life 28 29 Housing providers Sample Objectives Setting your equality objectives Objectives What to do How to measure progress

Research has shown that there are a number of issues lesbian, gay and Reduce homophobic incidents Develop easy-reporting mechanism Decrease in number who experience bisexual people face relating to housing, primarily their vulnerability of and anti-social behaviour in and for homophobic hate crimes homophobic incidents and anti- homelessness if they come out to their family and of violence, around tenants’ homes Introduce tenant contracts that social behaviour from neighbours including domestic violence, in and around the home. include protections against and other tenants homophobia Increase proportion of tenants evicted for engaging in homophobic • One in five lesbian, gay and bisexual people expect to be behaviour treated worse when applying for social housing • One in six victims of homophobic hate crimes say that the Increase allocation of emergency Develop inclusive emergency Proportion of emergency housing crime was committed by a neighbour or someone living in housing to lesbian, gay and housing policy allocated to gay people bisexual people Train staff on the housing needs of Decrease in number of gay people the local area gay people waiting for emergency housing • One in five lesbians who are victims of homophobic hate crimes say they were committed by a neighbour or someone Improve support, advice and Provide relevant advice and Number of gay tenants satisfied living in the local area information provided to lesbian, information that tenants can access with the services they received gay and bisexual tenants confidentially Number of gay tenants who would Lesbian and gay people aged 18-24 are four times as likely • Signpost tenants to relevant use the services again than average to have experienced a homophobic hate crime information sources committed by a family member Demonstrate a commitment to Join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Improvement on Workplace Equality lesbian, gay and bisexual good practice programme and enter Index score year on year Sources: Serves You Right and The Gay British Crime Survey equality Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Attendance and evaluation of events Host and attend community events on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues

For more For information and support on information see delivering specific equality the following objectives for housing providers, useful Stonewall please contact us on reports and 08000 502020 or resources [email protected]

Serves You Right The Gay British Crime Lesbian, Gay and Blow the Whistle on The Housing Guide Some People Are Gay, Survey Bisexual People in Gay Hate Get Over It Later Life 30 31 7 Further information

All Stonewall publications referenced in this guide are available to download for free from www.stonewall.org.uk/publications

For hard copies of any Stonewall publications or resources please visit www.stonewall.org.uk/resources

For tailored support and advice on improving your workplace for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees employees contact [email protected]

For tailored support and advice on addressing homophobia in your school, college or university contact [email protected]

For tailored support and advice on improving NHS services to lesbian, gay and bisexual patients contact [email protected]

For advice and support on all other areas covered in this guide and more please contact 08000 502020 or [email protected] Designed by Lucy Ward

32 Sexual Orientation The Equality Act Made Simple